Coach Steve Spurrier said after today's practice that Mitchell, in his fifth season with the Gamecocks (1-0), would be back under center at Sanford Stadium on Saturday evening. Mitchell missed South Carolina's opener last week, a 28-14 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette, because of a one-game academic suspension he got for missing too many classes during summer school.
Freshman Chris Smelley and sophomore Tommy Beecher shared playing time against the Ragin' Cajuns, each throwing a touchdown pass in the win.
Spurrier played coy with his quarterback decision all week because he thought it might keep the Bulldogs' staff guessing a few extra days. But he had few other options heading into the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 211-pounder from LaGrange, Georga, has started 17 of Spurrier's 25 games at South Carolina. He's thrown 27 TDs during that span compared with a combined three from Smelley and Beecher.
A sprained right shoulder will Smelley out of this week's game. Beecher will back Mitchell up, and freshman Stephen Garcia has been moved up to third string.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/9/86138